By: Phoebe Piserchio, Editor-in-Chief
On May 2nd of 2023, what seemed to be a promising blockbuster season like no other quickly turned into a season of industry upheaval as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike, with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) quickly following just two months later on July 14th. Striking over unfair compensation and poor working conditions, writers and actors remain in a stalemate with major studios and streaming services, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. With no end in sight, the labor dispute has caused a cascade of delayed film productions raising vital questions about the future of cinema and television.
Since the strikes began, picket lines have formed in various cities, such as Los Angeles and New York. Writers and actors alike have revealed shockingly low residuals (the industry term for royalties earned for artistic work) they receive, ranging from a few dollars to as little as a few cents; some actors and writers can’t even afford health insurance. Actress Mandy Moore, a main character in the show This is Us for over six seasons, told the Hollywood Reporter that she has collected 81-cent residual checks from Hulu for her work on the show. Actor Sean Gunn, who appeared on over 140 episodes of famed show Gilmore Girls, also told the Hollywood Reporter that he sees almost no revenue that goes into the endless streams the series receives on Netflix. Other Hollywood stars that have walked the picket lines include Amy Adams, Paul Dano, Florence Pugh, Bob Odenkirk, Margot Robbie, Jack Black, and countless others. Entire casts of shows have also reunited in support; some include Parks and Recreation, Breaking Bad, Family Guy, Succession and Glee.
With the entertainment industry on pause, numerous movies and shows have been delayed. Highly anticipated films including The Batman Part 2, Challengers, Thunderbolts, and Dune Part 2 have been pushed back several months. In turn, this has taken huge economic tolls on production companies, with estimated losses soaring as high as three billion dollars.
Award shows and film festivals have been drastically affected by the strikes as well. The 2023 Venice Film Festival witnessed a notable absence of stars on the red carpet in solidarity, even as major films were making their premieres. Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain attended in honor of her new film Memory, where she dressed in a SAG-AFTRA t-shirt. Meanwhile, the Emmy Awards ceremony has also announced a rescheduled date for January 2024 (as opposed to its original September 2023 date) in response to the ongoing industry challenges.
According to the New York Times, the writers and actors’ position is that “the streaming era has deteriorated their working conditions as well as their compensation levels.” They are seeking more transparency from streaming services about viewership, which might justify higher compensation. Bloomberg reports another concern is securing protections against artificial intelligence, which studios have been trying to incorporate more of due to it being a cheaper source of labor than humans. Such concerns include requiring an actors’ consent to use their image, giving them control over how their image is used, and just compensation for that use.
These disputes have exposed the harsh realities faced by writers and actors in the entertainment industry; as the strikes persist with no resolution in sight, the future of cinema and television remains uncertain. The battle for fair treatment and just compensation remains a vital cause, ensuring those who bring our beloved stories to life on screen receive what they rightfully deserve.
